The amniote organizer (Hensen's node) can induce a complete nervous system when grafted into a peripheral region of a host embryo. Although BMP inhibition has been implicated in neural induction, non-neural cells cannot respond to BMP antagonists unless previously exposed to a node graft for at least 5 hours before BMP inhibitors. To define signals and responses during the first 5 hours of node...

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important structure maintaining stability of the knee joints. Deficits in physical stability and the proprioceptive capabilities of the knee joints are observed, when the ACL is damaged. Additionally, a unilateral ACL injury can affect bilateral knee proprioception; therefore, proprioception of the ACL may play a key role in stability. Electroacupunctu...

In the developing cerebellum, young granule neurons in the external germinal layer respond preferentially to BDNF, while mature neurons within the inner portion of the cerebellum respond preferentially to NT3. Here we show that this anatomic distinction reflects a developmentally regulated switch at the level of neurotrophin receptor gene expression. The salient feature of the developmental swi...

The development of crural Pacinian corpuscles was explored in neonatal mutant mice lacking nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT3) or neurotrophin-4 (NT4), or their cognate Trk receptors. Deficits of the corpuscles and their afferents were greatest in NT3, less in BDNF, and least in NT4 null mice. Deletion of NGF or p75(NTR) genes had little or ...

To determine if muscle sensory neurons require neurotrophin-3 (NT3) during the period of normal cell death, we used an NT3-specific antiserum to deplete NT3 from peripheral tissues during this period in chick embryos. DiI staining of dorsal roots indicated that limb injections of anti-NT3 reduced the spinal projection of muscle spindle afferents. In contrast, injection of the antiserum into the...